HK P30SK First 100 Rounds

[Winkman822]

I picked up a brand spanking new P30SK from my FFL on Tuesday and got it for a song. I opted for the night sights and three mags option on a V1 Light LEM configuration. I knew I would like the trigger because I really liked the V2 LEM in my P2000 (though it was a little on the stiff side), and I really like the V1 in my P30L.

I had a few minutes between my last morning meeting and my 1:30 teleconference, so I decided to run up the road to the range to punch some holes in paper with the new blaster.

Accuracy and Reliability:
I warmed up with my daily carry P229 (just 15 rounds), then switched over the the P30SK. Wow! what a great shooter for a small pistol. The recoil didn't seem overly snappy, the trigger felt great and predictable, and the gun grouped very well for me at 5, 7, and 10 yards using 115 gr. Federal American Eagle. I had no bobbles at all with the P30SK using the American Eagle, and it also ate the 20 115 gr. Barnes Tac XPD's that I fed it at the end of the session without a hitch. DISCLAIMER, it's actually a first 120 rounds! For the sake of comparison, I did have the P30L in the range bag and I decided to have a go with a couple magazines out of it and shockingly, I shot the P30SK better. For some reason or another I tend to group a little low with the P30L. Further shooting is necessary, but I have no doubt that this gun will pretty quickly find its way onto my belt as a carry gun.

Ergonomics:
This is one of the main reasons that brought me to the P30 series in the first place. I absolutely adore the ergonomics of my P30L and have always liked the P30 series, but until the last couple of years (i.e. my bank account recovering from my last 1911 binge), they were just a little out of my price range. I finally got a P30L and wow! Love at first grope. Anyway on to the SK, the ergonomics are outstanding. As soon as I got the gun home, I cleaned and lubed it and then did the obligatory messing about with the grip panels to get it just right for my hand. Turns out that like my P30L, medium all around works best for me. I am slightly surprised that the gun ships from the factory with the medium sides and large back. My specimen came with three 10 round magazines, two with the +0 pinky extensions and one with the flat base plate. I must say, I very much prefer the feel of the magazine with the flat base plate over the magazines with the pinky extenders (and I found that out dry practicing with this gun and have ordered flat base plates from HK Parts). This surprised me quite a bit as I almost always go for the pinky extender on a sub compact gun. Heck, I had them on all of my Glock 26 magazines. They're a MUST have on the P99C AS. I only use the 7 round magazine with the extension on my PPS. Lastly, on the P2000SK's that I've shot, I had to have the pinky extenders there too. Something about the ergonomics of the P30SK, however, makes me feel more comfortable shooting with a flat base vice extended base. I think it may have something to do with how the bottom of the front strap blends to the magazine extension. My only real gripe about this gun is in regard to the grip texture. It has the same grip texture which is the same as the VP series pistols which is acceptable and it feels okay in hand, but I really like the texture on the bigger P30 and P30L better. The finer texture (to me anyway) feels like it has a little more bite and also has a more refined look. That said, with that being my only real gripe about the gun, I'd say this is a pretty solid little guy and I look forward to shooting it a lot more.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Your sentiments mirror my own. I have found it to be a very comfortable blaster and easy to shoot accurately. The lite LEM trigger is easy to run to reset and I find I can get bullets on target very quickly.

I prefer the flat base plate too. My pinky naturally wraps around the bottom and it is a very comfortable gun to shoot. The +1 extension base plate I have I only added to my spare mags. The finger groove on mine sticks out slightly further than the ones on the grip of the gun, so if I apply even grip pressure, my picky tends to pull the muzzle down slightly. It's a technique issue I need to work on.

On that note, my girlfriend was using the pinky extension on her LC9S and was shooting WAY low. Like a foot or more. So I said "Let me try something." and I took the pinky extension off and handed it back to her. The next magazine all went through the 8, 9, and 10 rings on the target. It was a vast improvement.

She was gripping the gun too tightly on each trigger pull because she was a new shooter, and her trigger discipline is not yet well developed.

I am wondering two things. Do you pull your shots low with your SIG? And also, have you tried putting the largest backstrap in your P30L? I wonder if adding a little more meet at the bottom of your palm won't bring that muzzle up just enough to bring your POI up.

 

[Winkman822]

Your sentiments mirror my own. I have found it to be a very comfortable blaster and easy to shoot accurately. The lite LEM trigger is easy to run to reset and I find I can get bullets on target very quickly.

I prefer the flat base plate too. My pinky naturally wraps around the bottom and it is a very comfortable gun to shoot. The +1 extension base plate I have I only added to my spare mags. The finger groove on mine sticks out slightly further than the ones on the grip of the gun, so if I apply even grip pressure, my picky tends to pull the muzzle down slightly. It's a technique issue I need to work on.

On that note, my girlfriend was using the pinky extension on her LC9S and was shooting WAY low. Like a foot or more. So I said "Let me try something." and I took the pinky extension off and handed it back to her. The next magazine all went through the 8, 9, and 10 rings on the target. It was a vast improvement.

She was gripping the gun too tightly on each trigger pull because she was a new shooter, and her trigger discipline is not yet well developed.

I am wondering two things. Do you pull your shots low with your SIG? And also, have you tried putting the largest backstrap in your P30L? I wonder if adding a little more meet at the bottom of your palm won't bring that muzzle up just enough to bring your POI up.

The Sig is the gun that I shoot the best (second to my 1911's). That gun and I just flat out get along. As for trying the largest back strap on the P30L, I have not tried that, but I may give it a go. I will say however I notice I do not have the low POI issue with my VP9 with the small back strap and medium sides installed.

 

[Eugen]

OP, nice range report on your HKs. I have a P30s V3 with me at my outdoor range as I type. I haven't shot mine in about 6 months, and, like you, am again reminded about how much I like ergonomics of the P30 models. I enjoy reading positive comments regarding the SK model as one of those is on my short wish list. But, frankly i never met an HK that i didnt like.

Now for reloading and back to my sunny evening at the range with my HK.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Not sure if you have a holster picked out man but I've been carrying mine in this since Novemberish. It's a good product and I'm pretty happy with mine. The price is a little stupid though.

https://stealthgearusa.com/holsters/hk-p30sk-ventcore-flex.html?___SID=U

 

[420Stainless]

Thanks for the thorough review. It's definitely one I'm interested in, except I want the DA/SA version with the safety. Hoping to try one out soon as it looks like good quality for the price.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I bought a P-30 40 cal last fall for $500 out the door and absolutely love the gun, everything about it is awesome.

 

[Winkman822]

Not sure if you have a holster picked out man but I've been carrying mine in this since Novemberish. It's a good product and I'm pretty happy with mine. The price is a little stupid though.

https://stealthgearusa.com/holsters/hk-p30sk-ventcore-flex.html?___SID=U

I do actually have a holster selected, I'll be going with another Blackpoint Tactical Mini Wing. I love that holster system and use one for my P30L, P229, P226 and PPS. In the mean time, I'll be re-purposing my Galco Stow and Go that I had bought years ago for my XD Subcompact.

 

[bnolsen]

At a local cabela's I asked them to take one of these out of the case. Tried it in my big hand and had them put it back immediately. The sales guy said that's very common with that gun. Perhaps HK should ship a mag with an extender on it so the shops can use that mag in the display case. I know they put out the 9mm shields with the 8rd mag.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Funny, I have fairly large hands and I find the gun more comfortable to shoot with the flat base plate than with the pinky extension. Everyone's different.

 

[Winkman822]

At a local cabela's I asked them to take one of these out of the case. Tried it in my big hand and had them put it back immediately. The sales guy said that's very common with that gun. Perhaps HK should ship a mag with an extender on it so the shops can use that mag in the display case. I know they put out the 9mm shields with the 8rd mag.

A lot of the more recent production runs of the SK guns are shipping with one flat and one pinkie extender mag. My particular specimen (LE package with factory night sights and a third mag) shipped with two pinkie extender mags and one flat. I pretty promptly ordered two additional flat base pads because I prefer the feel of them over the extenders.

 

[JDR]

...And also, have you tried putting the largest backstrap in your P30L? I wonder if adding a little more meet at the bottom of your palm won't bring that muzzle up just enough to bring your POI up.

I have the largest backstrap and sideshells on my own P30 9mm, and with my large mitts, this grip fits my hand better than any other pistol that I own, and POA = POI out to at least 25 yards. I can confirm that its definitely worthwhile to experiment with the different backstrap & sideshell combinations that come in the box with the P30.

 

[jamesjames]

Its a shame that more folks don't know about or appreciate H&K. The difference to most people between a $450 pistol and a $700 pistol is waaaay tooo much money. But the proof is in the pudding, or rather the performance. The ergonomics of the H&K are amazing. The reliability and accuracy of the H&K are amazing. I have an H&K P30 full size in 9 mm and absolutely love the thing.

But I did what so many (impatient, dumb, deluded) gun owners do and found a used Beretta PX4 Storm sub compact for a smokin' deal and grabbed it. While the Beretta is a fine pistol, the H&K P30 SK would have been head and shoulders a better choice.

I have played the concealment game with a Kahr PM9, lots of S&W j-frames, and now the double stack sub-compact Beretta. the sub compact have the same height and length dimensions as a j-frame. But they sure don't carry like a j-frame or a Kahr single stack. I've tried to ankle carry the 28 oz Beretta sub compact brick. But is just won't ankle carry like a j-frame. They IWB carry like a dream, but sub compact versions of full size pistols are not the same as a j-frame in terms of concealment.